A midweek trip to play an in-form Snodland Town had looked a tough challenge for Whitstable who lost the reverse fixture 2-0 in September, but their supporters enjoyed a relatively stress free evening as the game ended in a comfortable 5-1 win. The initial breakthrough came with a diving header by Joe Healy, but things immediately got worse for the home team when their goalkeeper Justin Lee got himself sent off before play restarted. Healy went on to complete a first half hat trick with a wonderful long range strike and another header just before the break. Any chance the ten men of Snodland had of making a second half fightback ended soon after the restart when Javaun Splatt added a fourth. Emmanuel Shoderu was gifted a consolation goal before Bradley Walledge struck late to complete the scoring.

The two teams both came into this game in good recent form and each have Second Round FA Vase ties to look forward to in November. Snodland were unbeaten in nine games since losing 5-1 at Rusthall and Whitstable are promisingly placed in the league with games in hand of most of their rivals. Included in the Snodland team was former Oyster striker Charlie Heatley, freshly signed from VCD Athletic. Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle rotated his squad a little, with current top scorer Bradley Schafer and Chris Alhassan being replaced by Dean Grant and Joe Healy. There were 257 in attendance on a pleasant evening for watching football.

The home team were first to attack and Emmanuel Shoderu had a shot deflected wide for an early corner. Heatley headed a cross well over the top a few minutes later. There were a few late challenges from Snodland players in the first quarter of an hour, with the Whitstable physio twice being needed to attend to goalkeeper Dan Colmer and Connor Dymond was spoken to by the referee before Heatley was cautioned for a late tackle on Healy. In the 17th minute Whitstable opened the scoring with a well worked goal. A free kick was played to Finn O'Mara who found fellow defender Will Thomas on the right and his cross was met by Healy whose stooping header from around the penalty spot beat the goalkeeper, Snodland captain Justin Lee, who then appeared to throw the ball at Grant and was shown a straight red card. Midfielder Harry Hudson took over in goal and the home side were left to play with ten men.

Healy then produced a moment of magic, and a "goal of the season" contender, to double the lead in the 26th minute. Thomas sent Grant away on the right and when the ball came across to Healy about 25 yards from goal, he hit a half volley that flew into the net giving the replacement goalkeeper no chance to react. In the 37th minute, the assistant spotted another offence by Dymond who was shown a yellow card. Jake McIntyre fired the free kick into the wall and a rare Snodland attack saw a long shot by Shoderu blocked by Thomas. Jayden Boulton made a good run down the left before crossing to Javaun Splatt whose near post shot was well saved by Hudson. Grant then collected a pass and made space for himself, but sliced his shot wide. The pressure eventually brought Whitstable a third goal deep into added time when a good move on the right released Theo Osinfolarin whose cross was met by another diving header from Healy who completed a great first half hat trick.

Faced with an uphill task, Snodland changed their goalkeeper for the second half with Hudson returning to midfield while the gloves were passed to Heatley who was soon picking the ball out of the net when Whitstable scored their fourth in the 51st minute as a low Grant cross from the right was diverted into the net by Splatt for his tenth goal of the season. Boulton was booked and then quickly replaced by Ashdon Day while multiple changes were made by Snodland. Whitstable continued to create chances although were content to keep possession for lengthy spells with the game effectively over. They did concede a sloppy goal however in the 69th minute when Day attempted to play the ball back to McIntyre, but they got it wrong and Snodland's main threat Shoderu was left with just Colmer to beat and did just that, curling the ball into the net.

Whitstable missed a few more opportunities to boost their goal difference and Splatt was denied by Heatley before substitute Bradley Walledge scored his first goal for the club in the 87th minute. Splatt chased the ball down the right before pulling it back to the edge of the penalty area and Walledge shot past Heatley into the far corner. Alhassan had a very late chance to make it six, but was unable to beat Heatley, although the Whitstable supporters would have been happy enough on their return journey with a 5-1 away win.

After five games, and four weeks, on the road, Whitstable are finally back at home on Saturday when Holmesdale are the visitors for a league fixture. The teams only recently met when Whitstable progressed in the Kent Senior Trophy with a 4-0 away win.

Snodland	Data	Whitstable
1	Shots on target	8
1	Shots off target	5
3	Shots blocked	3
4	Corners	5
11	Fouls conceded	10
0	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Snodland Town
Justin Lee (c), Tyler Jackson-Hunt, Kaylam Burgess (Riley Goatham 75), Zak Loveridge (James Teodorescu 56), Connor Dymond (Jamie Thuillier 55), Alfie Powell, Samuel Naiwo (Alvin Turyatemba 57), Harry Hudson, Charlie Heatley, Emmanuel Shoderu, Nathaniel Olawole (Femi Ogunbiyi 56).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Emmanuel Shoderu 69
Yellow cards: Charlie Heatley 14, Connor Dymond 37, James Teodorescu 83.
Red card: Justin Lee 18

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Finn O’Mara, Jayden Boulton (Ashdon Day 58), Mikey Dalton, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c), Dean Grant (Chris Alhassan 81), Fin Cotton, Javaun Splatt (Connor Wilkins 90+6), Joe Healy (Bradley Walledge 67), Theo Osinfolarin.
Sub (unused): Bradley Schafer
Goals: Joe Healy 17, 26, 45+5, Javaun Splatt 51, Bradley Walledge 87.
Yellow card: Jayden Boulton 55

Attendance: 257
Referee: Christopher Bowdery
Assistants: Stephen Luke & Adam Back